President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spearheaded a comprehensive review of plans to revolutionize state-owned enterprises within Uzbekistan's aviation sector, on February 22, press service of the president reported.
Despite these strides, the growth of aviation services in Uzbekistan registered a modest 11.6% increase last year, falling short of the ambitious targets outlined in the country's strategy until 2030, which envisions a fourfold increase in air transportations. To bridge this gap, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the imperative of achieving an annual growth rate of at least 20% through concerted efforts in infrastructure development, enhanced management practices, pricing adjustments, and quality improvements.
A key challenge identified is the relatively high air ticket prices, coupled with an insufficient number of domestic and international flights to meet burgeoning demand. Tashkent and Samarkand airports remain the primary hubs, yet face limitations in handling aircraft and passengers, with ancillary services contributing a mere 7% to total airport revenue. Moreover, the transit potential of Tashkent, Navoi, and Namangan airports remains underutilized.
Moreover, measures are underway to streamline costs in the industry by 20%, including the sale of older aircraft with high fuel consumption and the acquisition of modern, fuel-efficient models. A significant reduction in fuel consumption is envisaged through optimizing flight routes to 72 destinations. Unused and unprofitable assets are earmarked for divestment.
Crucially, efforts are underway to bolster personnel training and attract foreign qualified specialists to state-owned airlines, ensuring the sector is equipped to navigate the complexities of an evolving aviation landscape.
Earlier Daryo reported that the Uzbekistan Civil Aviation Agency has approved AJet, previously known as AnadoluJet, to conduct scheduled flights to the country. AJet has been granted permission to operate regular services on the Ankara - Tashkent - Ankara route, reflecting a growing trend of improved connectivity between the two nations.
Kazakhstan
The Air Astana Group, acknowledged as the foremost airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus region in market dominance, has achieved a noteworthy feat with the initiation of conditional trading of Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs) on the London Stock Exchange. This accomplishment, coupled with its Initial Public Offering (IPO) and triple listing on the London Stock Exchange, Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, and Astana International Exchange, highlights the company's impressive trajectory over the past twenty years.
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